New speakers? No thanks.

That Volvo sounds system looks legit!

im still driving a ‘98 XC70. Great tape deck. 

If you love your Quatros I have a pair of woods myself think of moving up the line
to CT 5 or even 7
Enjoy the journey that is half the FUN 

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/car-audio/volvo

check out the sound system in the new Volvo’s!

When I decided it was time to renew my hifi system the first thing I did was go to the jewelry store and buy my wife a nice bracelet. It just made the whole process so much smoother. Obviously kidding about the sis.

Volvo XC60.  It’s pretty rad

Congrats on the new car (I think?) My insurance company still has not gotten back to me on my crashed Subaru???? But it did save me when the other guy t-boned me on the drivers side. What did the wife get?

@andynotadam.   Thanks!

@steve59. That’s awesome

Well I didn’t get new speakers...yet.  But guess who got a new car yesterday?   I’m pretty sure I’ve been hustled.   Nicely played, Dear.  

Thank you for not saying "the wife." Probably a little part of why she's open to you pursuing your passion, something she seems to enjoy as well. Good on ya...

I love Vandersteens. Still have the Model 4's (mid-'80s model) that I had set up in previous house. That was a high point in my audio life.

No room in new house for that system, so it has all been desktop audio for past 10+ years (before then it was computer speakers, and the less said about that, the better).

There are advantages to this smaller, near-field world: mainly that if I get curious about another pair of speakers (of anything), I can get it and swap into system (storing the other unit for time being). For example, my mains are now the very good ATC SCM Pro 12s (best 2 way I ever heard, almost too big for desktop). I just purchased a considerably less expensive pair of speakers, the Wharfedale Diamond 225s, because so many people say such nice things about its sound. I'll try them, and that doesn't work, either store them for a rainy day, or sell.

I do miss that big living room system, though.

Most important question. Does she have any sisters?

MillerCarbon@ What speakers did you get?

Last week while chilling with my wife, listening to music, she turns to me and says,” you haven’t bought any new speakers in years.  You should take our tax return and get some”.  bigboltz  you've just experienced a temporary state of nirvana ! congratulations! Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket and cross your fingers.

Yes to the above poster, since most speakers need more power. But one needs CLEAN power and that often comes at at price. What was that Nelson Pass rule, if the first Watt is not right, all the others that follow will be wrong? Someone correct my memory. There are a ton of crappy powerful amps at attractive prices and if you buy one you might end up with LOUD CRAPPY sound

You can NEVER have too much power, I don't know how many people are going to ask this question on this forum.

The only thing you can have too much of is stupidity, if you turn the juice up too much and hear that something is wrong and don't turn it down then you will blow your speakers.

However, if you have more than enough juice to run your speakers then you are running them with lower distortioned power.

Additionally, if you were to ever build better speakers (presumeably with better power handling) you will have the extra power on tap to drive those speakers harder.

Heres my advice, get the best, highest powered amplifier you can afford right now so you dont have to buy it later. I bought an integrated amp that put out 150wpc thinking it would be the end all solution, I was regreting it 2 months later, then I bought my two Bryston 4B's which are both bridged running +/-1000 watts per side.

Hopes this helps.

I love the smell of "New Speakers"

@headphonedreams... yes Vandyuncommon in Europe. Helmut Brinkmann has a pair of 7’s normally demonstrated at rhe Munich show. On my list to attend that one for sure...I think it is most probably the best HiFi show on planet..

anyway, yes the big MBL properly driven for sure is a world class speaker, apples and salmon to the Vandersteen sound/ approach but yes in a big big room pretty incredible...some but not all Vandersteen models have a rear firing tweeter, 100% distortion, but can give some of the same effect.....it is switchable....

have fun, music is the key!!!!!

Ur Quattro aren't that old - but they look pretty biog - are you sure ur wife wasn't giving u the hint that she wants you to get something a bit more wife friendly??? ;)
Joking aside I am convinced that sales drive more speakers as opposed to technological jumps. Leets be honest if recordings from the 50's and 60's are better than todays recordings - then why should old speakers be no good?
Save ur money, or buy another piece of kit - better still go to a few concerts

 @rx8man thanks for link, that worked, I posted a question there so as not to hijack this thread.....lovely stuff those DHT 

@headphone,
You must be reading my mind.
I have been dying to listen to MBL's for years. Not common here in the US. I missed a pair of used 121's and am kicking myself.
And, I have a soft spot for Omni's. 
Bob

Link: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5121

 @bigkidz will have a look at gear, I assume in virtual systems ?

best Jim

I think the Treo CT with 2 x Sube 3 at about 15K vs the Quattro CT at same $ comes down to room placement options. Obviously the footprint of the former system is much larger than a pair of Quattro, but the Q is deeper and should be located more into the room as Treo was purpose designed for closer to wall environment..and the Treo is ported, so that is a small consideration as well.

but what fun !!!!!

i am spinning the newly released butbrecorded 1980 Linda Ronstadt- Live thru the TREO CT today, lovely.....

you can view that system by searching casa pacifica

great music Sunday all !!!!!!

Jim

If you're happy with your speakers then you don't have to change anything. Enjoy the music.

I haven't heard any Vandersteens, they are uncommon in Europe. I just heard a pair of MBLs and they were fantastiskt! Totally different Price though. They Playstation sounds in all directions and may be a bit similar to your speakers. Have you tried listening to omnidirectional speakers? Might suite you better.

I also heard Oido Audio speakers that were good but they are probably very hard for you to find.

@gdnrbob I thought about getting Treo CTs and a couple of subs, just to get into the carbon tweeter.   But I don’t think it will be a whole lot less at the end of the day. So I will likely wait for Quatros CTs

Once I can sell my old 2w and 2wq subs, I am going for the new Sub 3's.
I wish I had more room, but the Treo's are the perfect size.
Bob

@tomic601 - just posted pictures of the components my partner and I build.  Let me know what you think.

@tomic601 thanks also built a DHT preamp, a 6SN7 preamp and a killer phono stage Very nice they are reference quality compared to the local dealer offerings.

@2psyop AMEN.

Being satisified or happy with what one has, the life one lives is one of the best things we can do for happiness.

 @bigkidz A DHt DAC done well must be a thing of wonder :-) 

My ref system viewable in the virtual systems part of audiogon
search Poverty Bay and I think you will find it.

enjoy the music and the tax returns and the wine everyone !!!!

+1 @bigboltz
+1 @erik_squires

Hmmm- I heard there aren't many sources to get wasted in Seattle. Good luck anyway though.

Listen a few times to the same recording:Your favorit music..before you go to a store. See that all the details are in your head. Let play the same music in de store and look for the details in the music, how the Instruments sound. According to you, take the best sounding. Ask to compare the best sounding speakers at home with yours. Than you can make a decision. The best speakers are those that sound most pleasant to you ( and your wife). I can not say: “This or that brand of speakers”,because it  has also to match with your amplifier.

I was dumb enough to give Uncle Sam an interest free loan.  I withheld a few hundred extra out of each check

My question is... how the HECK did you get a tax refund under the new tax law??!!! Jeez, that “tax break” cost me over $12K

I’ve gone from 2ci’s to 2ce sigs, to the sigs  with a 2w sub, then added a second 2w. 

Then upgraded to a pair of 3a sigs, which sounded wonderful with the 2 subs.  Now I have the Quatros in the older cloth version.  

I also have an HT system downstairs with 1c’s and the vsm surrounds.  I guess I’m obsessed.  

I should mention that theyre made in my hometown and my Dad graduated with RV and still runs into him quite often. So there’s a nostalgia factor, to boot.  

I think i was really just looking to try a different flavor while I saved for the CT’s 

I have Vandersteen 2 CE Sig II, and enjoy them immensely but if I were able to budget a change of speakers I would get the Quatro Wood CT without question.

A good example of confirmation bias writ large was a guy I sold a stereo system in 1980
he had grown up obsessed with LED Zeppelin and played it constantly on his all in one white plastic GE stereo - you know the one....
anyway he saved to buy an NAD amp, Denon TT and ADS 710

he returned at after a week saying it didn’t sound like Zeppelin..., his own personal private Led Zep....

@tomic601 Wish I was closer but the guy I purchased the 5As from got the 7s.  He told me that he did not feel the 5 Carbons was worth the extra funds so he go the 7s.  I was never really that impressed with the overall sound until we brought my DAC to her in his system.  It was a transformation.  If you even come to the NYC area, let me know.  There are few audio clubs in the area and plenty of dealers too.  I will be launching the product line soon.  The past two Capital Audio Fests the room we were in won best of show with the GT Audio speaker room.  You can look it up and there are a few links to the room playing music.

Happy Listening.  What other equipment are you using with the 7s?

The short answer confirmation bias is being open to information that confirms our own beliefs- about sound, wine, cars, politics, even science

one reason why the frequent touchstone of Live unamplified Music need be a persistent reference

and another reason why I own speakers with widely divergent design principles...

 @bigkidz Seattle area! You are welcome also

@Bigboltz@tomic601

where are you people located?  I'm in the NYC area.  I just picked up a pair of Vandersteen 5As to replace my 5s.  Have not set them up yet maybe this weekend.  The person I purchased them from upgraded to the 7s.  I brought over my DAC to play in his system.  All I can say is I now want a pair of 7s.  Never thought that I would say that but with my DAC WOW, the guy wants me to build him one.

Let me know where you people are.

Happy Listening.

Bigboltz, it’s always heart-warming to hear from someone who is happy with their audio choices. So, much of the market in second-hand gear consists of mistakes being off-loaded to the next sucker.

Could it be expectation bias too? If you listen to one pair of speakers for a long time you might get used to the sound and not want something different.

If you do sell, I'll take them!
Bob

but for fun and “icepick” avoidance, she can listen to the ESL-63, Apogee Stage on custom sound anchors or the tricked out Cornwalls.......no one trick Pony here

i may even have the Thiel 2.3 running by then, who knows...?

why drink the same wine every nite ?

I was at a shop when a 2ci owner came in and all he could do was question the need for any of the other speakers on the floor since the vandy's were clearly the only speakers in the shop worth a dime. Gotta love his passion, personally I found them to be a little vague, but yer dime.